Andoni Iraola has left no doubt about the transformation he intends to bring to Liverpool, outlining his vision during his inaugural press conference. "We must become a side that works tirelessly, with intensity and aggression," he declared, signalling a clear shift in philosophy. The embodiment of this new ethos is the recently acquired winger Victor Munoz. The 23‑year‑old Argentine, who arrived from Osasuna for a reported £34.5 million this summer, explained why Iraola saw him as the perfect fit for Anfield.
In an interview with El País, Munoz said, "My directness, the way I try to unlock games, the pressing intensity I bring to suffocate opponents—those are the traits Iraola values in a winger and the primary reasons he chose me." Munoz gave a taste of that mentality in his first appearance for Liverpool, a pre‑season friendly against Monaco at Anfield. Early in the match he sprinted down the flank, leaving his full‑back trailing, and surged toward the Kop, providing an encouraging cameo off the bench that hinted at the dynamism he could add. Off the ball, Iraola’s expectations are crystal clear.
During Liverpool’s recent clash with Bournemouth, the emphasis on pressing and winning the ball high up the pitch was evident. Winger Marcus Tavernier, playing for Bournemouth, won the ball more often in the final third than any Liverpool player last season, underscoring the standard Iraola demands. Fellow forwards Evanilson and Junior Kroupi also featured among the top thirty in that metric. This focus on relentless movement is a hallmark of Iraola’s approach; his Bournemouth side consistently ranked among the Premier League’s top two teams for sprints in each of his three seasons at the helm.
The rationale behind Munoz’s signing is precisely to eradicate the passivity that crept into Liverpool’s play under Arne Slot, a stagnation that frustrated many supporters. Changing the tactical blueprint requires not only new ideas but also fresh personnel capable of executing them. Munoz’s statistical profile supports the case.
In LaLiga last season he won possession in the attacking third 22 times, a figure surpassed by only six other players. His high‑pressing instincts suggest that Liverpool’s former reputation for relentless pressing could be revived. Beyond the numbers, Munoz’s background is intriguing. He spent three formative years at Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy from 2014 to 2017, training alongside future stars such as Fermin López, Alejandro Balde and Xavi Simons.
The Barcelona education gave him a solid technical foundation. Later, Real Madrid took him under its wing, where he progressed through the club’s development squads and eventually made his senior debut last year, coming on as a late substitute for Vinícius Júnior in a match against Barcelona. However, his path has been anything but conventional.
After being released by Barcelona, he found a foothold at Real Madrid, only to move to Osasuna in search of regular first‑team football. He never represented Spain at any youth level, yet he now possesses a World Cup winner’s medal—a testament to his perseverance and adaptability. Carlos Domenech, an adviser at CF Damm—the club that rescued him after his Barcelona exit—describes Munoz as "not the typical extroverted footballer." Spain’s World Cup‑winning manager Luis de la Fuente has praised his humility, noting that such an attitude is essential for continued development. While at Osasuna, a modest club from Pamplona, Munoz’s metrics placed him among the elite.
Only three players in LaLiga—Lamine Yamal, Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé—completed more dribbles than him last season. In terms of corners won, only three names ahead of him, all from the Spanish giants, appeared.
When measuring progressive carries of ten metres or more, only Vinícius outperformed him, highlighting his ability to drive his team forward. These statistics paint a picture of a player capable of injecting pace and forward thrust into Liverpool’s attacking half. The hope is that Muntz can become a potent counter‑attacking weapon, using his speed to exploit spaces while also possessing the technical skill to dismantle compact, low‑block defenses. Adapting to the Premier League will be essential.
At Osasuna, Munoz enjoyed considerable freedom; he ranked within the top ten for shots taken but fell outside the top forty for goals, reflecting a tendency to fire from distance or tight angles. His expected goals per shot stood at a modest 7.2 %, notably lower than the likes of Hugo Ekitike (15.2 %), Florian Wirtz (13.8 %) or Mohamed Salah (12.0 %). At Liverpool, the increased quality of service and the abundance of creative options should raise his conversion rate, provided he refines his decision‑making in the final third. Both Munoz and Iraola acknowledge that adaptation is a two‑way street.
"I discussed with the staff what is working and what we can do differently," Iraola said. "I wouldn’t say better, I would say differently." There is a palpable desire among Liverpool fans for a return to the exhilarating, rock‑and‑roll football that Salah famously championed in his farewell address.
Iraola’s mandate is to deliver that style at Anfield, and he has recruited Munoz as a key component of that blueprint. If the Argentine winger can translate his LaLiga vigor to the English game, Liverpool may well rediscover the high‑octane, pressing brand of football that once made them a dominant force.